Blockbuster? A hot-selling deepfake film depicts Putin's life… and death

Polish director Patryk Vega, also known as Besaleel, used artificial intelligence to create a deepfake of Russian President Vladimir Putin for his biopic. "To come extremely close to the dictator, we needed Putin, not an actor with make-up," Vega told French news agency AFP.

At Cannes, the film called 'Putin,' has already been sold in 50 countries ahead of its premiere on September 26, AFP reports, marking a breakthrough in the use of AI in filmmaking. This wild movie is set to test whether audiences love it… or hate it. So far, distributors are willing to bet on it!

Image: Putin, Official Trailer/ Patryk Vega

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The trailer begins with a dramatic scene of Putin cowering on the floor in diapers, setting the tone for the controversial film.

Image: Putin, Official Trailer/ Patryk Vega

Vega opted for AI technology instead of traditional makeup, as he felt only Putin's face, not an actor's, would suffice for authenticity. "I called Putin and asked him if he wanted to play in my movie... No, that was a joke," Vega quipped to the AFP.

The idea for the film came to Vega during the early days of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. "First I wanted to do a movie about the Russian mafia. Then I decided to do it about the biggest gangster," he explained.

The film covers six decades of Putin's life, starting from his childhood when he was beaten by his stepfather, to his eventual death. "In the end, I show his death. A happy end," Vega said.

Image: Putin, Official Trailer/ Patryk Vega

Using a Polish actor with a similar build and then using AI on the face, the film traces several historical events related to Putin, including the 2002 Moscow theater hostage crisis, the bombing of Chechnya, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which will use footage shot by Ukrainian filmmakers, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Image: Putin, Official Trailer/ Patryk Vega

While Putin isn’t exactly known for being kind to his enemies, the 47-year-old director, who has directed several hit movies in Poland, said he isn’t afraid. "Putin should be afraid of me," he told the AFP.

Image: Putin, Official Trailer/ Patryk Vega

The explosion of AI technology has been a real fear in Hollywood over the past couple of years, even becoming a key negotiating issue during the actor and writing strikes in 2023.

A recent Hollywood Reporter article suggested that the use of more subtle AI in filmmaking is already here, though it’s a bit of a secret. "Producers, writers, everyone is using AI, but they are scared to admit it publicly," David Defendi, a French screenwriter, said. Movies like 'Civil War' and 'Late Night' were also suspected of using it.

Speaking to Hollywood Reporter, Vega shared his vision for how it could be used outside of recreating famous leaders. “I foresee that film and TV productions will eventually employ only leading and perhaps supporting actors, while the entire world of background and minor characters will be created digitally,” he said.

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